Archive for the 'Valley View Casino' Tag Under 'Lakers' Category

Phil Jackson suggested Kobe Bryant would be held out of the Lakers' exhibition game Thursday night in San Diego against the Golden State Warriors.

Bryant has not had a setback regarding his surgically repaired right knee, as he actually took part in practice Wednesday and is set to play Friday night in Ontario against the Warriors in the exhibition-season finale. But Jackson is not a fan of the San Diego Sports Arena, which opened in 1966 and isn't a regular high-level basketball venue.

Bryant's absence wouldn't be great news for Home Depot, which paid to be title sponsor of this particular exhibition game, or Valley View Casino, which recently bought naming rights for the arena. But Jackson no doubt remembers that Bryant hyperextended his right knee in a game on that court in 2008, colliding with Josh Powell in pursuit of a Sun Yue missed shot.

Jackson also envisioned limiting Bryant's minutes somewhat in the early regular-season games, although the coach doesn't have a definitive plan and actually didn't even know the actual game schedule.

"I don't anticipate he'll be playing heavy-minute games to start the season," Jackson said.